Push button control apparatus



Jan. 4, 1966 T. WINTHER PUSH BUTTON CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Oct. 10, 1965 INVENTOR Thorkil Winfher Unite States Patent 3,227,819 PUSH BUTTON CONTROL APPARATUS Thoriril Winther, La Grange, 11]., assignor t Automatic Electric Laboratories, Inc, Northlake, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 10, 1963, Ser. No. 315,165 6 Claims. (Cl. 200-) This invention relates in general to signal control apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to the construction of a signal control unit of the type having a matrix or an array of individual keys or plunger elements which when depressed close one or more corresponding contact switches.

A control unit of this general type is disclosed in copending applications S.N. 313,214, filed October 2, 1963, and SN. 313,638, filed October 3, 1963.

The present invention is a further development of the construction of such control units.

Therefore, the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for a control unit of the above type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control unit using a simplified slide bar scheme for actuating the contact switches.

Pursuant these objectives the invention features a molded shell structure consisting of a top and bottom section. The top section includes a top or face surface and sides. The bottom or base section includes projections used for stabilizing and spacing the plunger element and slide bars with respect to each other. Another feature of the invention is the slide bars which in combination with the plunger elements are the means used to actuate the normally open contact switches. The switches are mounted on the sides of the shell structure and include a movable and a fixed contact spring. The movable spring is ositioned at the ends of each slide bar in order that when the bar is moved it closes one of the two switches. The slide bars are moved by means of the plunger element which have embossed sections which engage projections and cavities formed on the bars. The act of depressing the plunger element results in lateral movement of the slide bars.

These and other objects and features will become more apparent after carefully reading the subsequent detailed description which makes reference to the drawings.

PEG. 1 is an exploded view of the component parts of the invention showing in perspective their relationship to each other.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view showing a slide bar of one coordinate and a corresponding plunger element operatively associated with it in a restored position.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view showing a slide bar and a plunger element which is operatively associated with it in a depressed position.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view showing a plunger element and a slide bar positioned in another coordinate to that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring now to the drawings which show a preferred embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1 thereof, illustrates the elements of the invention and their structural and functional relationship with respect to each other. These elements are top section 19, bottom section 11, switches 12, plunger element 13, restoring spring 14, slide bars 15, 16, 17 and 13, and screws 19. Top section includes a top 20 and sides 21. The top includes an array of rectangularly shaped apertures 31 These apertures receive a portion of plunger elements 13 so that the latter can be depressed and the control unit operated. Sides 21, on the other hand, include grooves 22 which appear as apertures after top section 10 is assembled to bottom ice section 11. The two sections of the shell structure are assembled by means of screws 19 which extend through clearance hole 31 of bottom section 11 and into a corresponding tapped hole (not shown) in top section 10. This is one way of securing the two elements together into a shell structure, however, there are others. For example, the two parts could be formed so that one can be press fitted into the other.

A physical characteristic of bottom section 11 is the plurality of integrally formed projections 23. These projections extend approximately perpendicular to the main plane of the section and contain a number of slots 24, 25, 23 and 29. Slots 28 receive slide bars 16 and 18, and slots 29 receive slide bars 15 and 17. In addition to these slots there are other slots, for instance, slots 24, and 25 which receive embossed sections 26 and 27 of plunger element 13. Thus, it should be understood that the projections 23 with their slots are used as supports and guides to the plunger elements 13 and bars 1548. In this connection it should be noted that there is clearance between the bars in the difierent coordinates to avoid one bar rubbing against the other. Also the slots 24 and 25 are slightly larger than the width of embossed sections 26 and 27 so a negligible amount of contact is incurred when the plunger elements are moved from a restored position to a depressed position.

From FIG. 1 it should be furthermore noted that the ends of bars 15-18 extend beyond projections 23 and are received by grooves 22. In assembly the ends are in juxtaposition to contact switches 12 so that when the bars slide laterally corresponding contact switches are operated. Since the switches are normally open, movement of the bar effects a closure.

According to the embodiment shown contact switches 12 are mounted on sides 21 by means of screw 42. Each switch includes a movable contact spring 32 carrying contact 34 and a fixed contact spring 33 having contact 44- attached to it. The springs have free ends which are aligned and in juxtaposition with the apertures and are operatively associated with the ends of a bar. This means that the free end of each movable spring member 32 is positioned adjacent to the corresponding end of a bar. Therefore, any lateral movement of the bar moves the movable spring member 32 in engagement with fixed contact spring 33. Details of how the switches are operated will be explained in greater detail in connection with FIGS. 2-4.

Before referring to FIGS. 24 however it should be noted that bars 15-18 are positioned in a cross-coordinate pattern. Bars 15 and 17 are positioned in one coordinate and bars 16 and 18 in another coordinate. This arrangement makes it possible to operate more switches because they can be distributed over four sides instead of only two sides of the shell structure. Furthermore, the bars are preferably rectangular shaped and molded of a plastic material. Bars 15 and 17 include a number of cavities 35 and 38 which are placed at spaced intervals. Cavities 35 include an angular surface 3t: as one of its sides whereas cavity 38 has two straight sides. Bars 16 and 18, on the other hand, include a number of projections 3% which also have an angular surface 411.

Plunger element 13 cooperates with the bars and is preferably rectangular shaped and molded of a plastic material. It includes flanges 41 and the aforementioned embossed sections 2d and 27. The embossed sections appear as ribs and extend from the flange adjacent the side surfaces of the element. The flange is used as a stop and normally rests against the inner surface of top 21 by virtue of the efifect of the restoring means, spring 14. Each embossed section includes a rounded edge 50,

see FIG. 2, in order to be complementary to the surfaces of the projections and cavities it engages with. This will be understood more clearly from the discussion made with reference to FIGS. 2-4. Before commencing with that discussion, however, it should be noted that each plunger element 13 also includes a blind hole 53 located in its lower portion which receives one end of the restoring spring 14. The spring restores the button after it is depressed. It should be observed that the size of the spring is relatively small in comparison to those normally used for this purpose. 'The reason for this is that the particular bar moves against its natural bias of the moveable contact spring and as soon as the plunger element is released the spring will move the bar back to its normal position.

Referring specifically now to FIGS. 2-4 which illustrates this and other features of the invention. FIG. 2 shows the plunger element in a restored position. In this position the end of bar 15 lies adjacent to movable contact spring 32 and any lateral movement of bar 15 would result in a closure of switch 12. This lateral movement occurs when plunger element 13 is depressed.

FIG. 3 shows the element in its depressed state. As the plunger element moves from its restored position to its depressed state embossed section 27 contacts angular surface 40 and transfers its downward motion to lateral movement in the bar to operate the switch. This transfer takes place because the point of contact, that is Where rounded edge 50 contacts angular edge 44], between the two moving parts runs at an angle, to the line of travel of the plunger element and therefore there is a component force in a lateral direction. When the plunger element is released movable contact spring 32 urges bar 15 back to its original position.

FIG. 4 illustrates the engagement of embossed section 26 with the aforementioned cavities 35. It should be observed that here also the rounded edge 50 of embossed section 26 makes contact with angular surface 36 of cavity 35 and thereby moves bars 16 to actuate switch 12. It should be noticed that bars 15 and 16 actually move in the same general way even though one has projections and the other cavities.

FIGS. 2-4 also show blind hole 53 in the plunger element. This blind hole receives a portion or end of restoring spring 14. The other end is positioned adjacent to the bottom or lower section ill. Also shown, is flange 41 which comes to rest against the inside surface of top 2% as a result of restoring spring 14 exerting force against the plunger element.

The use of bars to actuate switches is a simplified scheme. It is quiet and smooth and generally improves the construction of push button type control units.

The invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, however, it is to be understood that this was done merely by way of illustration and not intended as a limitation to the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for controlling signals comprising in combination: a housing; bars having cam surfaces and mounted in said housing for longitudinal sliding movement in both directions, said bars being disposed in a cross-coordinate pattern, with the first-coordinate bars being positioned in a first plane and the second-coordinate bars being positioned in a second plane parallel to said first plane; contacts mounted in operative relation to the ends of said bars; plunger elements mounted in said housing so as to be manually depressible along a line perpendicular to the line of movement of said bars, each said plunger element having a cam portion adjacent to and engageable with a corresponding cam surface of at least one of the bars in each of said planes for sliding said bars and operating the respective contacts; and means to restore said bars and restore said plunger elements.

2. Apparatus for controlling signals comprising in combination: a housing having apertures therein; switches having at least a pair of contacts and mounted to the housing in juxtaposition to certain ones of the apertures; a first set of slide bars parallelly positioned within said housing and each having two ends and projections said ends extending within certain ones of the apertures and in an operative relation to some of the switches; a second set of slide bars parallelly positioned within said housing perpendicular to said first set of bars, said second set of bars each having two ends and including cavities, said ends extending within certain others of the apertures and in operative relation to others of the switches, the bars of said first and second sets movable in two directions; plunger elements manually movable along a line perpendicular to the line of movement of the bars, said plunger elements having a finger portion extending within a certain other aperture and at least two embossed sections within the housing at least some of said embossed sections operatively engaged with the said projections and others operatively engaged with said cavities, certain ones of said bars slide and operate corresponding switches in response to movement of a select one of said plunger elements; means to restore said bars; and means to restore said plunger element.

3. Apparatus for controlling signals comprising in combination: a housing having apertures therein; switches having at least a pair of contacts and mounted to the housing in juxtaposition to certain ones of the apertures; a first set of bars positioned in parallel and each having two ends and projections with an angular edge, said ends extending within some of the apertures and in an operative relation to some of the switches; a second set of bars positioned in parallel, perpendicular to the first set of bars and each having two ends and cavities with an angular edge, said ends extending within certain others of the apertures and in an operative relation to other switches, said first and second set of bars movable with a sliding motion with respect to the housing; plunger elements manually movable along a line perpendicular to the line of movement of the bars and each having a finger portion extending within a corresponding aperture and embossed sections with a rounded edge, certain ones of said embossed sections operatively engaged with the angular edge of said projections and others operatively engaged with said angular edge of said cavities, said bars slide and operate corresponding switches in response to movement of a corresponding plunger element means to restore said bars; and means to restore said plunger element.

4. Apparatus for controlling signals comprising in combination: a block shaped housing having a top, a bottom, and sides, said top and said sides having apertures therein; pairs of contact switches having a contact carried by a movable contact spring and another contact attached to a fixed contact spring and mounted on said sides, said contact springs having free ends aligned with and in juxtaposition to the apertures in the sides; a first pair of rectangularly shaped bars slidably and parallelly positioned within the housing and having each two ends and projections at spaced intervals, at least some of said projections include an angular edge, a second pair of rectangularly shaped bars slidably and parallelly positioned within the housing perpendicular to the first pair of bars and having each two ends and cavities at spaced intervals, at least some of said cavities include an angular edge, each of said ends extending within said apertures in the sides of the housing and adjacent to one of said movable contact springs; rectangularly shaped plunger elements having each a finger portion extending through a corresponding aperture, and embossed sections and a blind hole within the housing, said plunger elements manually movable along a line perpendicular to the line of movement of the bars and having a depressed position and a restored position; said embossed sections including a rounded edge some of which are operatively associated with the angular edge of said projections and others operatively engaged with the angular edge of said cavities, two of said bars slide and move two of said movable contact springs thereby moving said movable contacts into engagement with two corresponding fixed contacts in response to moving a select plunger element from said restored position to said depressed position; restoring springs received by said blind holes and positioned adjacent the bottom of said housing to move said plunger elements to said restored position from said depressed position; said bars being restored by said contact springs; and means to space said plunger elements and said bars Within said housing.

5. Apparatus for controlling signals comprising in combination: a housing; a first set of slide bars positioned within said housing; each having a top surface with projections thereon; a second set of slide bars positioned within said housing, each having a top surface with cavities therein; contacts mounted in operative relation to the ends of said bars; a plurality of integrally molded push buttons mounted in said housing so as to be manually depressible along a line perpendicular to the line of movement of said bars, each said plunger element having at least two embossed sections, at least some of said embossed sections adjacent to and engageable wit-h said projections and others of said embossed sections adjacent to and engageable with said cavities, for sliding said bars and operating said contacts, and means to restore said bars and restore said plunger elements.

6. Apparatus for controlling signals comprising in combination: a housing; a first set of slide bars positioned within said housing; each having a top surface with projections thereon; a second set of slide bars positioned Within said housing, each having a top surface With cavities therein; a plurality of switches mounted on said housing, each of said switches having a movable contact carried by a contact spring and a fixed cont-act; a plurality of integrally molded push buttons mounted in said housing so as to be manually depressible along a line perpendicular to the line of movement of said bars, each said push button having at least two embossed sections, at least some of said embossed sections adjacent to and engageable with said projections and others of said embossed sections adjacent to and engageable with said cavities for sliding said bars and operating said contacts, each of said contact springs being positioned adjacent to the end of one of said bars, such that in response to depressing one of said push buttons, certain of said bars are moved against the natural bias of certain of said movable contact springs, flexing said springs and operating said contacts, said springs urging said bars back to their normal position when said push button is restored; and means to restore said push buttons.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1964 Grunfelder et a1. 200-5 3/1964 Hutt 200-453 X 

1. APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING SIGNALS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A HOUSING; BARS HAVING CAM SURFACES AND MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING FOR LONGITUDINAL SLIDING MOVEMENT IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, SAID BARS BEING DISPOSED IN A CROSS-COORDINATE PATTERN, WITH THE FIRST-COORDINATE BARS BEING POSITIONED IN A FIRST PLANE AND THE SECOND-COORDINATE BARS BEING POSITIONED IN A SECOND PLATE PARALLEL TO SAID FIRST PLANE; CONTACTS MOUNTED IN OPERATIVE RELATION TO THE ENDS OF SAID BARS; PLUNGER ELEMENTS MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING SO AS TO BE MANUALLY DEPRESSIBLE ALONG A LINE PERPENDICULAR TO THE LINE OF MOVEMENT OF SAID BARS, EACH SAID PLUNGER ELEMENT HAVING A CAM PORTION ADJACENT TO AND ENGAGEABLE WITH A CORRESPONDING CAM SURFACE OF AT LEAST ONE OF THE BARS IN EACH OF SAID PLANES FOR SLIDING SAID BARS AND OPERATING THE RESPECTIVE CONTACTS; AND MEANS TO RESTORE SAID BARS AND RESTORE SAID PLUNGER ELEMENTS. 